Sam F. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 4274
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Sam F., a Protestant, who was born in Piétrebais, Belgium in 1918. He recounts that his parents were very religious; working in their market; military draft in 1939; German invasion; demobilization; continuing to work for his father; moving to Brussels to avoid forced labor; sending packages to Belgian POWs in Germany; arrest in June 1944; incarceration in Charleroi prison; deportation to Buchenwald in August; transfer several weeks later to Blankenburg; slave labor in construction; frequent deaths and starvation; a death march to Magdeburg; a mass killing of prisoners; liberation; transfer by the Red Cross to Lübeck, then to a hospital in Trelleborg, Sweden, and then to Ulricehamn; surgery; repatriation to his parents' home; marriage in 1946; and the births of two children. Mr. F. discusses developing faith in God while in camp; nightmares resulting from his experiences; and receiving reparations for permanent injuries.

Extent and Medium

3 videocassettes

Conditions Governing Access

This testimony is open with permission.

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Copyright has been transferred to the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. Use of this testimony requires permission of the Fortunoff Video Archive.

Rules and Conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Process Info

  • compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies

People

  • F., Sam, -- 1918-

Corporate Bodies

  • International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
  • Blankenburg am Harz (Concentration camp)
  • Buchenwald (Concentration camp)

Subjects

  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons, German.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Belgian.
  • Forced labor.
  • Concentration camp inmates.
  • Video tapes.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Belgian.
  • Men.
  • Postwar effects.
  • Postwar experiences.
  • Mutual aid.
  • Mass killings.
  • Faith.
  • Nightmares.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
  • Death marches.

Places

  • Trelleborg (Sweden)
  • Ulricehamn (Sweden)
  • Magdeburg (Germany)
  • Lübeck (Germany)
  • Piétrebais (Belgium)
  • Brussels (Belgium)
  • Belgium.

Genre

  • Oral histories. -- aat
This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.